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Britons disapprove of hype over Becks` scandal in poll
London, Apr 22: Most Britons would support stronger laws to protect the privacy of celebrities, a poll released yesterday suggests as newspapers continued to splash the saga of soccer star David Beckham`s alleged infidelity.
London, Apr 22: Most Britons would support stronger laws to protect the privacy of celebrities, a poll released yesterday suggests as newspapers continued to splash the saga of soccer star David Beckham's alleged infidelity.
Sixty-nine per cent of respondents to the survey by pollster ICM said Britain should introduce a privacy law to protect public figures such as celebrities and the royal family. Just 11 per cent felt there was a "legitimate public interest" in newspapers publishing claims about Beckham's private life.
That has not stopped British newspapers devoting space to the subject every day for more than two weeks. Yesterday, several papers featured pictures of Rebecca Loos, the former personal assistant who claims she had an affair with the England and Real Madrid soccer star -- although only one put Loos on the front page.
Loos, 26, walked the red carpet at the British premiere of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill -- Vol. 2" Tuesday night.
Beckham, 28, who is married to former spice girl Victoria Beckham, has labeled the allegations "ludicrous". Tuesday's papers featured pictures of the Beckhams enjoying a night out in London.
Yesterday another player in the saga arrived in London. Sarah Marbeck, a Malaysian-born model and former escort who says she, too, had a fling with Beckham, flew into Heathrow airport on a flight from Sydney, Australia. Marbeck, 29, brushed off reporters' questions about her plans while in Britain.
The ICM poll, published in 'The Guardian' newspaper, found that 27 per cent of respondents said they believed Beckham's denials while 31 per cent believed Loos; 43 per cent either did not know who to believe or did not care.
ICM surveyed 1,002 adults by telephone April 16-18; the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Bureau Report
Sixty-nine per cent of respondents to the survey by pollster ICM said Britain should introduce a privacy law to protect public figures such as celebrities and the royal family. Just 11 per cent felt there was a "legitimate public interest" in newspapers publishing claims about Beckham's private life.
That has not stopped British newspapers devoting space to the subject every day for more than two weeks. Yesterday, several papers featured pictures of Rebecca Loos, the former personal assistant who claims she had an affair with the England and Real Madrid soccer star -- although only one put Loos on the front page.
Loos, 26, walked the red carpet at the British premiere of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill -- Vol. 2" Tuesday night.
Beckham, 28, who is married to former spice girl Victoria Beckham, has labeled the allegations "ludicrous". Tuesday's papers featured pictures of the Beckhams enjoying a night out in London.
Yesterday another player in the saga arrived in London. Sarah Marbeck, a Malaysian-born model and former escort who says she, too, had a fling with Beckham, flew into Heathrow airport on a flight from Sydney, Australia. Marbeck, 29, brushed off reporters' questions about her plans while in Britain.
The ICM poll, published in 'The Guardian' newspaper, found that 27 per cent of respondents said they believed Beckham's denials while 31 per cent believed Loos; 43 per cent either did not know who to believe or did not care.
ICM surveyed 1,002 adults by telephone April 16-18; the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Bureau Report